The following was shared both on the phone (Tuesday) and in an IM (thankfully he wrote it all to me as well, so that I could post it easier to the blog) . . .
"We saw a lot of the country in the last couple of days - some great people and even camels! This country is amazing. If they could get it all together, they could make a killing in tourism. It has everything people could want warm temperatures, big sky views, alp-type mountains.
We have spent a lot of time in the truck. (The men in the truck) and I had a good time. We went through a lot of little towns. Nobody has traffic lights, but villages have speed bumps. We decided speed bumps were like traffic lights. If you were from a small town, you wouldn't say my town has one traffic light, you would say I'm from a one bump town. Ha Ha. If you were from a three or four bump town you were from like Homer on the 281 side. And if you were a really big town you had bumps and a traffic circle!
We got a flat tire due to all the bumps. Ha Ha. You haven't changed a tire, until you have changed a humvee tire in 90 plus heat, in full body armor, helmet, and in a combat zone. What a trip! Of course, we all know how mechanically inclined I am, but I did it! However, I really held my butt cheeks tight the whole time going back to the fob, hoping that it didn't fall off. It is amazing how much people around here trust me. Ha Ha.
The trucks around here around here are called jingle trucks and they load them down until the cargo is as high as the truck. We even saw busses carying cars on top of them. I do not know how they get them up or down because they have no cranes.
I will be sleeping in my bed tonight with my blanket! My packages arrived today. Woohoo. I love everything . . . "
Josh said the children are out of control and that at the same time, it brings waves of emotions. "It's wonderful to see them so excited to see you and be so happy when you give them candy or food. At the same time, it is heartwrenching when you see their reaction to a bottle of water, something that we take for granted. The other day we stocked up on snack items, like rice krispie treats and stuff, and these two kids were practically hitting each other trying to get them all. They love it when we give them candy. They are all starting to go back to school, but not for the start of a school year -- actually going back to school, like they are re-opening."
Josh said that they do have some ideas for what the local people could use. His platoon is hoping to adopt a nearby village - purchasing their items to help them financially and finding out what they can use that the platoon could provide them with. Once they have established all of that, he will share the list of items.
He also sent the following picture Friday morning . . .
This is his ride...
On Friday morning, he signed on to IM - always a pleasant 5:30 a.m. wake-up call. It was actually the first conversation that we had were we really didn't talk a lot about Afghanistan or the deployment, but rather I caught him up on the happenings around here. It was wonderful! We just talked, sort of like he was away on a business trip. Ha Ha Ha!
1 comment:
Darci, I definitely want to contribute something that they can give out to the locals. That's so nice of them.
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